open in two weeks generates more revenue into the economy of the city than the yankees, mets, knicks, and rangers combined. it's a number somewhere north of $700 million each year. and there were those who opposed that notion. fortunately, we prevailed. >> your love of tennis. where did that come from? >> i was a tennis fan way back, because i had met arthur ashe and althea gibson. there was a place in scotch plains, new jersey, a small black country club with a nine-hole golf course called shady rest. it was 1975 at wimbledon, where arthur played jimmy connors. jimmy was number one in the world. arthur was not supposed to prevail, but he did. arthur was a dear friend, and i called him the day he made his announcement that he had aids. and i was not one of the few that knew, but i called, and i said, hey, man, what are you doing? he said i'm going to a press conference. i said what's it about? and he told me. i said, can i come? he said, sure. so i was standing there with him and jeannie, and you will recall seeing the news clips, he couldn't get through his statement. he handled it t